Pages

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Electronic Health Record vendors face make-or-break year of client ultimatums and revolts

As many as 17% of physician practices are considering switching electronic health record vendors by the end of 2013, according to a new report from Black Book Rankings. With unmet expectations in system features, implementations, deliverables and client support issues mounting, 2013 may become the "Year of the Great EHR Vendor Switch."

“The high performance vendors that will emerge as viable past 2015 are those dedicating responsive teams to address customers’ current demands,” said Black Book’s managing partner Doug Brown. And those demand lists are growing longer and longer according to the survey responses. Users foretell of dozens, if not hundreds, of software firms underperforming badly enough to lose major market share as the industry evolves and struggling vendor solutions don't keep pace.

The independent insight Black Book gathered indicates many EHR firms have been so busy with backlogged implementations and selling product that development issues are being left on the back burner. Most concerning to current EHR users are unmet pleas for sophisticated interfaces with other practice programs, complex connectivity and networking schemes, pacing with accountable care progresses, and the rapid EHR adoption of mobile devices.

Brown upholds that the “meaningful use incentives created an artificial market for dozens of immature EHR products”. The sweeping Black Book survey also revealed that some popular "one size fits all" EHR products have not met the needs of several specialists and cannot continue to satisfy their client base with a lack of customizable or bespoke tools.

Nearly half of all Black Book EHR survey respondents scoring their respective vendor performances also answered the following set of questions on vendor switching.

The following aggregated responses are provided:

Are you dissatisfied enough with your EHR to consider making a change, and if so when?

35% No

8% Yes, but we cannot afford to abandon first/current EHR choice

2% Yes, within 3 months

7% Yes, within 6 months

8% Yes, within one year

34% Not sure, neither overly satisfied or dissatisfied

6% Yes, but no time frame

Of those debating or confirmed to be changing EHR vendors in the next year, from what type current EHR solution would you most consider switching to?

51% Web Based/ASP/SaaS/Hosted to another Web Based/ASP/SaaS/Hosted

12% Web Based/ASP/SaaS/Hosted to On-Premises Solution

19% On-Premises Solution to Web Based/ASP/SaaS/Hosted

6% On-Premises Solution to another On-Premises Solution

12% Unsure

Select top three compelling reasons for your practice to be considering vendor switch from current EHR?

80% Solution does not meet the Individual Needs of this Practice, including workflow

79% This Practice did not adequately assess our needs before selecting the original EHR

77% Design of solution is not suited for this Practice Specialty/Specialties

44% Vendor not responsive to requests and needs

20% Current EHR does not adequately communicate with other EHRs

16% Concerns that current EHR will not meet Accountable Care requirements

12% Current vendor is too focused on meaningful use achievement

11% Other practice software modules are not integrating with EHR

5% Setbacks have caused delays in reimbursement or disrupt work

14% Other

Black Book also conducted over 550 telephone interviews to drill down on the specifics of client complaints to note trends.

What three red flags are so currently compelling that current users would not consider a different EHR vendor as an option to replace the problematic vendor solution?

32% Mergers or Acquisitions occurring in this company

26% Senior Management in Disarray

22% Dissipating Market Share and Market Value

22% Internal staff have not mastered system

16% Disloyal customer base

15% Bad integrations evidence

14% Product Delays

12% History of abandoning clients

12% Past Customizations were Unaffordable

6% Overdependence on consultants for implementations and training

Features that were on EHR buyer wish lists three years ago are typically considered as basic system features now, according to those surveyed. First system implementations were decided on “must haves” of (in order): Document Management/Scanning/Storage, Electronic Prescribing, Order Management, Implementation Support, System Cost, and Alerts.

With these basic EHR fundamentals met, experienced users now seek innovative vendors who meet the compounding demands of practices, according to 2013 Black Book responses.

What are the top ten criteria you consider “must haves” in 2013 beyond basic EHR functionality? (in priority order)